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Sunday, May 31, 2015

I've slowly been working on our master bedroom, like at a snail's pace kind of slow. We finally got nightstands about a year ago that I love although I still need to repaint the hardware because the silver just doesn't go as well, probably black. And a few months ago I scored a duvet cover on clearance I've had my eye on, for how much you ask? Less than $30 for a king!! I actually had sent a friend/client to get one for her bedroom makeover and when she said there was 2 I had her pick one up for me as well. I was also able to score those coveted threshold lamps from Target's spring (or was it summer) line last year, on clearance as well... can we see a theme going on here? I'm cheap when I know I can get something on clearance for half or even a quarter of the price (yes the nightstands were on clearance too)!

Anyway, one thing we are majorly lacking in is art for the room. I hung these DIY mirrors soon after we moved in but that was about the end of it. I don't want too much stuff on top of the nightstand as we now have a little one on the run and ready to grab anything within reach, so it had to be something that could hang on the walls but still look a part of the nightstand vignette. Enter one of my latest favorite natural stones, the agate.

Here's what you'll need:

A frame in your choice size with a mat (this one is from Target under $13)

Nice paper (I used watercolor paper because I like the texture)

Your stones (mine are actually beads from Michaels and I don't think they are real agate, only look alike)

And some tape or tacky dots

First remove the back of your frame, clean the glass if you're OCD like me, and then play around with the stones (if you have more than one) to see what arrangement you like best. Keep the mat in the frame so you know your borders.

Once you have them how you like them, add a tacky dot to the the back of them (the side that is facing you when you are arranging them).

And last lay your paper down on top and press down on the stones so they stick well. You may want to add some dots to the corners of the paper so it doesn't shift in the frame. And put the frame backing back on.

Your art should look like this when you're done. If you are using a single large agate stone, I would suggest using a square frame with it.

You also want to be conscience of how thick your mat is. The thicker the better as it will allow the stones to fit into the frame (and for the back to be placed back on).

I hung it on my side of the bed... just not too sure hubby would appreciate it like me! ;) Also I centered it with the nightstand instead of the mirror for a bit of contrast. The white frame also helps break up all of the brass I have going on in this area, and the blue of the stones works well with our bedding.

I also may have a slight obsession with hob nob milk glass!

All together this art cost me less than $20 to create and I think it totally makes this space!

Now to think about where I could add more of them in the house...

I have other ideas for art on the other side of the room, just need to make up my mind on which pieces I like best (post coming soon about it!)

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

In the One Room Challenge I created a bench area against one of the walls. The bench was another DIY project for the room and was originally a coffee table.

I purchased the table a few years ago to use as a display table for craft fairs but eventually down the road I had plans to turn it into a bench for the end of our bed. I had repainted it a few times, the last paint job was distressed gold legs to go with an upholstered top that never got around to getting upholstered... until now.

First you need to find an assistant, train them young is our motto in this house (this is how most of the projects go in this house)! And unscrew the top from the apron and legs...

If your table is similar to mine you will have 2 pieces like this...

Next I had to get rid of the overhang since this was going to now be a bench. Bat your eyes and flirt with your hubby or any guy who has a saw and cut off the overhang. We followed the marks left from the apron and legs on the bottom of the table top and some painters tape.

Once the overhang is no longer and the sides are sanded down, you will need to start laying down your layers to put it all together. First lay down your choice of fabric, then batting (I have it doubled), then your foam (a cheap source for foam is a mattress pad instead of the foam by the yard from fabric stores), and then your top. Obviously make sure your foam is cut just a hair bigger than the top and everything else big enough to wrap the sides.

Then begin stapling it all together. I begin in the middle of one of the longest sides and pull tight on it, and follow that until one side is complete. Then I do the opposite side making sure to adjust the foam first as it might shift after pulling the first side. Continue these steps until all four sides are stapled and last do the corners (my technique for this changes with each project and however I can get the fabric to fold well).

Celebrate and clap once you've stapled all the way around! Your top's bottom should look like this (fold over any ends so they don't shed and fall apart)...

Last re-attach the top to the apron and legs, then sit down and enjoy your coffee table turned bench!

Monday, May 11, 2015

I found some cheap, black frames from Walmart, each one was under $8! I took out the glass, matte, and backing and set the frames up like this...

Then I used my trusty ol' Rub'n'Buff in antique gold to make them look all fancy! Warning, your finger may be gold for a few days... but it's worth it. You might be able to use a brush or cloth to do this but I always use my finger as I think it works best. Also this little tube goes a loooooong way! I've had it forever and can't count the amount of projects I've done with it!

Then put your frames back together (it doesn't take long to dry), hang them up, and admire your expensive, gallery looking frames that cost you less than $8 each to make!

I didn't worry about getting a full coat on them and opted to let some of the black show a little so they looked a bit more aged.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

I made it! Barely... as in yesterday I bought the curtains and hung them, as well as gave the fan/light combo a quick face-lift kind of barely! You can see the original game plan here. I din't quite stick to it but I LOVE the results! There are still a couple more things I would like to add but for now it's a huge difference...

The original curtains I wanted to use looked too frumpy. So then I found a really pretty coral colored sheet and added trim to it, but it ended up being too bright for my taste in this setting. So then I found these curtains from Tj Maxx and they are PERFECT!

The great art debate is no longer... I created a gallery wall (go figure) with some inexpensive frames and some homemade water color pieces (tutorial for the frames coming soon).

The bench used to be a coffee table! I'll have a post about how we made it into a usable bench soon as well... I LOVE how it turned out!!!

The fan/ lamp combo was given a shade in a coordinating and fun new color to help it blend in with the room's new look.

The desk got re-arranged and I'm hoping it is easier to keep clean this way now that there are 2 separate work areas.

Some more before and afters because that's the fun part right?

The kids are enjoying all of the space now too... it's perfect for a good game of Bird Bingo (best game ever if you've never played it before; and #3 was sick and not in the mood for pictures, so pretend he's right there in the middle bossing everyone around like he does best!)

I hope you enjoyed the tour as much as I loved sharing it! Thank you Linda for hosting this fun challenge that was just what I needed to get this room into shape! Now to begin all of the others that received the junk that was originally in here! It's a vicious cycle!